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NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple Review, Photos, Swatches

NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple
NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple

NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple ($39.00 for 0.26 oz.) is described as a “copper bronze.” It’s a medium-dark brown with warm, orange-yellow undertones and a satin finish. It is surprisingly similar to NARS Cappadoce (P, $39.00), except Vientiane appears and applies darker on cheeks/lips. Guerlain Moyen Brunettes (05) (LE, $75.00) is a powder. Too Faced Sun Bunny #1 (P) is more shimmery, powder. Clarins Splendours (LE, $35.00) is brighter. Le Metier de Beaute Sun Drenched (P, $55.00) is very similar but a powder. See comparison swatches.

The finish of Vientiane seemed more like a true satin than a satin-matte or matte–there was a bit more sheen there. It was richly pigmented in a single swipe; there’ll be no trouble getting true-to-tube color with this shade. The formula is very much like the other six; velvety in feel, blendable, and not at all tacky. It dries down in two to three minutes giving you enough time to work with it to blend and sheer out as desired but not so long that it slips or slides on the skin. This shade wore well for almost eight hours (as a blush) and four hours (as a lip color) before starting to show signs of fading on me. It was moderately drying when worn as a lip color. For more of an overview of the Matte Multiple formula, check out this post.

NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple
NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple

NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple
NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple

NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple
NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple

NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple
NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple

NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple
NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple

NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple
NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple

NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple
NARS Vientiane Matte Multiple

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation
  • Guerlain Les Voilettes Pressed Powder
On eyes:
  • Chanel Jardin Zen Eyeshadow Quad

39 Comments

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Esme Avatar

This has nothing to do with the actual product, but I think it’s so strange that there’s one Matte Multiple called Laos and one called Vientiane, which is the capital of Laos…

Helena Avatar

Well, there’s another NARS product (ahem, brow gels) that has two redundant browns when the shade range could’ve included a lighter, cool-toned brown instead. I was actually looking forward to Altai being either a nice contour or neutral blush, but instead it’s…orange, and Vientiane and Cappadoce look nearly identical. (I guess that’s why Sephora only has the former on their site?) Why you do this, NARS?!

Sylirael Avatar

So. Much. This.

I mean, Vientiane isn’t intended for cool-toned vampires like me anyway, so I can’t really comment on that, but I have been kind of disappointed by how warm everything is generally, and specifically by Altai, which I thought looked kind of paler and cool-toned when I first saw a picture of the stick…

Still kind of obsessed with Siam, though 😉

Karen Avatar

Would you be able to compare both the original multiple side by side with the new matte multiple? I am curious how the sizes compare. Thank you for your consideration, and all the work you put into your great reviews. Love it!

Fia Avatar

Could you use this one as a contour color? I´ve seen more and more youtube gurus use these warm browns/bronze colors for countouring than the cooler browns…

LaWanda Hankins Avatar

I bought this one from Sephora. I like the formula. I intend to wear as a blush. It makes a nice warm orangey color for spring/summer…since my skin is medium dark/golden.

Marlene Avatar

I actually just bought this shade and when I tried it on (bought it on sephora.com) it looked way too orange which was a disappointment because I got it to contour my face I still don’t know if I’ll be able to make it work or if I should try the Altai, what do you recommend to contour face I’m and NC25-NC30 which is kind of tricky because my face has pink undertone while the rest of my body has a yellow undertone so I buy my foundations to match my body (neck/chest) and not my face any recommendations 🙂

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